Tapered Manhole Assembly

ABSTRACT

A tapered manhole assembly includes a manhole frame that is positionable in a roadway. The manhole frame has a first portion and a second portion each sloping downwardly from a horizontally oriented centerline of the manhole frame to match the slope of the roadway. A manhole cover is removably positioned on the manhole frame to close the manhole frame. The manhole cover has a top side and the top side is divided into a first half and a second half, each sloping downwardly from a centerline of the manhole cover. The manhole cover is oriented on the manhole frame such that each of the first and second halves of the manhole cover is coplanar with a respective one of the first and second sections of the top edge of the manhole frame. Thus, each of the first and second halves of the manhole cover match the slope of the roadway.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLYSPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR ASA TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM

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STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the Invention (2) Descriptionof Related Art including information disclosed under 37 CFR 1.97 and1.98

The disclosure and prior art relates to manhole devices and moreparticularly pertains to a new manhole device for placing in acenterline of a roadway and matching the downward slope of each lane ofthe roadway.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above bygenerally comprising a manhole frame that is positionable in a roadway.The manhole frame has a top edge and the top edge has a first portionand a second portion each sloping downwardly from a horizontallyoriented centerline of the manhole frame. The horizontally orientedcenterline of the manhole is oriented to be collinear with a center lineof the roadway such that the top edge of the manhole matches the slopeof the roadway. A manhole cover is removably positioned on the manholeframe to close the manhole frame. The manhole cover has a top side andthe top side is divided into a first half and a second half, eachsloping downwardly from a centerline of the manhole cover. The manholecover is oriented on the manhole frame such that each of the first andsecond halves of the manhole cover is coplanar with a respective one ofthe first and second sections of the top edge of the manhole frame.Thus, each of the first and second halves of the manhole cover matchesthe slope of the roadway.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more importantfeatures of the disclosure in order that the detailed descriptionthereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that thepresent contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There areadditional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafterand which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features ofnovelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out withparticularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of thisdisclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than thoseset forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to thefollowing detailed description thereof. Such description makes referenceto the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a tapered manhole assembly accordingto an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is an exploded front phantom view of an embodiment of thedisclosure.

FIG. 4 is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through5 thereof, a new manhole device embodying the principles and concepts ofan embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by thereference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, the tapered manhole assembly10 generally comprises a manhole frame 12 that is positionable in aroadway 14 thereby facilitating the manhole frame 12 to surround anentry into a sewer line. The manhole frame 12 has a top edge 16 and thetop edge 16 is continuously curved about a vertical axis of the manholeframe 12 such that the top edge 16 forms a closed loop. The top edge 16has a first portion 18 and a second portion 20 that each slopedownwardly from a horizontally oriented centerline of the manhole frame12. Moreover, the horizontally oriented centerline of the manhole frame12 is oriented to be collinear with a center line of the roadway 14. Inthis way each of the first 18 and second 20 portions of the top edge 16of the manhole frame 12 match the slope of a respective lane on theroadway 14. The slope of each of the first 18 and second 20 portions ofthe top edge 16 may range between approximately 2.0 degrees and 4.0degrees below a horizontal plane.

The manhole frame 12 has an inner facing surface 22 and an outer facingsurface 24, and the top edge 16 has a slot 26 extending downwardlytherein. The slot 26 is coextensive with the inner facing surface 22 ofthe manhole frame 12, and the slot 26 has a lower surface 28. The topedge 16 has a first ridge 30 thereon that extends between the innerfacing surface 22 and the outer facing surface 24. Additionally, the topedge 16 has a second ridge 32 thereon that extends between the innerfacing surface 22 and the outer facing surface 24. Each of the first 30and second 32 ridges is oriented to be collinear with the horizontallyoriented centerline of the manhole. Thus, each of first 30 and second 32ridges defines the first 18 and second 20 portions of the top edge 16 ofthe manhole.

The top edge 16 has a first mark 34 thereon and the top edge 16 has asecond mark 36 thereon. The first mark 34 is positioned 180.0 degreesaround the top edge 16 from the second mark 36. Additionally, a flange38 is coupled a bottom edge of the manhole frame 12. The manhole frame12 may otherwise be structured similarly to existing manhole frames withrespect to diameter, height and other dimensions.

A manhole cover 40 is removably positioned on the manhole frame 12 toclose the manhole frame 12. The manhole cover 40 has a top side 42 andthe top side 42 is divided into a first half 44 and a second half 46.Each of the first 44 and second 46 halves slopes downwardly from acenterline of the manhole cover 40. Moreover, the manhole cover 40 isoriented on the manhole frame 12 such that each of the first 44 andsecond 46 halves of the manhole cover 40 lies on a plane that iscoplanar with a respective one of the first 18 and second 20 portions ofthe top edge 16 of the manhole frame 12. In this way each of the first44 and second 46 halves of the manhole cover 40 match the slope of arespective lane on the roadway 14.

The manhole cover 40 has a bottom side 48 and a perimeter edge 50. Thetop side 42 of the manhole cover 40 has a spine 52 extending across acenterline of the top side 42 of the manhole cover 40 to define thefirst 44 and second 46 halves of the manhole cover 40. Each of the first44 and second 46 halves slopes downwardly between the spine 52 and theperimeter edge 50. The manhole cover 40 may have a diameter that is lessthan the inside diameter of the manhole frame 12. The manhole cover 40may include venting holes and tool slots for gripping and subsequentlylifting the manhole cover 40 from the manhole frame 12.

The top side 42 has a primary mark 54 thereon and the top side 42 has asecondary mark 56 thereon. The primary mark 54 is positioned 180.0around the perimeter edge 50 from the secondary mark 56. The bottom side48 of the manhole cover 40 lies on the lower surface 28 of the slot 26in the top side 42 of the manhole frame 12 when the manhole cover 40 ispositioned to close the manhole frame 12. Thus, the top side 42 of themanhole cover 40 is aligned with the top edge 16 of the manhole frame12. The manhole cover 40 is rotated to align the primary mark 54 withthe first mark 34. Thus, the slope of the first half 44 the manholecover 40 matches the slope of the first portion 18 of the top edge 16 ofthe manhole frame 12. As a result, the secondary mark 56 is aligned withthe second mark 36 such that the second half 46 of the manhole cover 40matches the slope of the second portion 20 of the top edge 16 of themanhole frame 12.

In use, the manhole frame 12 is positioned around the entry into thesewer line during road construction. The manhole frame 12 isspecifically designed to be positioned in the center of the roadway 14where each of the lanes of the roadway 14 intersects at a peak.Generally speaking, roadways are constructed with a 2.0 to 4.0 degreedownward slope between the peak and a respective shoulder of the roadway14 for shedding water. The manhole frame 12 is oriented such that eachof the first 30 and second 32 ridges is aligned with and is orientedcollinear with the peak of the roadway 14. Thus, each of the first 18and second 20 portions of the top edge 16 of the manhole frame 12matches the slope of the respective lane.

The filler, such as asphalt or the like, is used to fill the hole in theroadway 14 around the outer facing surface 24 of the manhole frame 12and the filler is sloped to conform to the slope of the lanes and thefirst 18 and second 20 portions of the top edge 16 of the manhole. Themanhole cover 40 is positioned in the manhole frame 12 having the firstmark 34 being aligned with the primary mark 54 and having the secondmark 36 being aligned with the secondary mark 56. Thus, each of thefirst 44 and second 46 halves of the top side 42 of the manhole cover 40matches the slope of the respective lane in the roadway 14. In this wayeach of the manhole frame 12 and manhole cover 40 each facilitate asmooth driving surface with respect to driving over manhole covers thatare positioned on a centerline of a roadway 14.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized thatthe optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodimentenabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials,shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, aredeemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and allequivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings anddescribed in the specification are intended to be encompassed by anembodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of thedisclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used inits non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word areincluded, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded.

A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not excludethe possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless thecontext clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.

1. A tapered manhole assembly being configured to be positioned in acenterline of a roadway thereby matching a crown of the roadway, saidassembly comprising: a manhole frame being positionable in a roadwaywherein said manhole frame is configured to surround an entry into asewer line, said manhole frame having a top edge, said top edge beingcontinuously curved about a vertical axis of said manhole frame suchthat said top edge forms a closed loop, said top edge having a firstportion and a second portion each sloping downwardly from a horizontallyoriented centerline of said manhole frame, said horizontally orientedcenterline of said manhole frame being orientable to be collinear with acenter line of the roadway wherein each of said first and secondportions of said top edge of said manhole are configured to match theslope of a respective lane on the roadway; and a manhole cover beingremovably positioned on said manhole frame to close said manhole frame,said manhole cover having a top side, said top side being divided into afirst half and a second half, each of said first and second halvessloping downwardly from a centerline of said manhole cover, said manholecover being oriented on said manhole frame such that each of said firstand second halves of said manhole cover lies on a plane being coplanarwith a respective one of said first and second sections of said top edgeof said manhole frame wherein each of said first and second halves ofsaid manhole cover are configured to match the slope of a respectivelane on the roadway.
 2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein saidmanhole frame has an inner facing surface and an outer facing surface,said top edge having a slot extending downwardly therein, said slotbeing coextensive with said inner facing surface of said manhole frame,said slot having a lower surface.
 3. The assembly according to claim 2,wherein: said top edge has a first ridge thereon, said first ridgeextending between said inner facing surface and said outer facingsurface, said top edge having a second ridge thereon, said second ridgeextending between said inner facing surface and said outer facingsurface; and each of said first and second ridges being oriented to becollinear with said horizontally oriented centerline of said manholesuch that said each of first and second ridges defines said first andsecond portions of said top edge of said manhole frame.
 4. The assemblyaccording to claim 3, wherein said top edge has a first mark thereon,said top edge having a second mark thereon, said first mark beingpositioned 180.0 degrees around said top edge from said second mark. 5.(canceled)
 6. The assembly according to claim 4, wherein said manholecover has a bottom side and a perimeter edge, said top side of saidmanhole cover having a spine extending across a centerline of said topside of said manhole cover to define said first and second halves ofsaid manhole cover, each of said first and second halves slopingdownwardly between said spine and said perimeter edge.
 7. The assemblyaccording to claim 6, wherein: said top side has a primary mark thereon;said top side had a secondary mark thereon, said primary mark beingpositioned 180.0 around said perimeter edge from said secondary mark;said bottom side of said manhole cover lies on said lower surface ofsaid slot in said top side of said manhole frame when said manhole coveris positioned to close said manhole frame; said primary mark is alignedwith said first mark such that the slope of said first half said manholecover matches the slope of said first section of said top edge of saidmanhole frame; and said secondary mark is aligned with said second marksuch that said second half of said manhole cover matches the slope ofsaid second section of said top edge of said manhole frame.
 8. A taperedmanhole assembly being configured to be positioned in a centerline of aroadway thereby matching a crown of the roadway, said assemblycomprising: a manhole frame being positionable in a roadway wherein saidmanhole frame is configured to surround an entry into a sewer line, saidmanhole frame having a top edge, said top edge being continuously curvedabout a vertical axis of said manhole frame such that said top edgeforms a closed loop, said top edge having a first portion and a secondportion each sloping downwardly from a horizontally oriented centerlineof said manhole frame, said horizontally oriented centerline of saidmanhole frame being orientable to be collinear with a center line of theroadway wherein each of said first and second portions of said top edgeof said manhole are configured to match the slope of a respective laneon the roadway, said manhole frame having an inner facing surface and anouter facing surface, said top edge having a slot extending downwardlytherein, said slot being coextensive with said inner facing surface ofsaid manhole frame, said slot having a lower surface, said top edgehaving a first ridge thereon, said first ridge extending between saidinner facing surface and said outer facing surface, said top edge havinga second ridge thereon, said second ridge extending between said innerfacing surface and said outer facing surface, each of said first andsecond ridges being oriented to be collinear with said horizontallyoriented centerline of said manhole such that said each of first andsecond ridges defines said first and second portions of said top edge ofsaid manhole, said top edge having a first mark thereon, said top edgehaving a second mark thereon, said first mark being positioned 180.0degrees around said top edge from said second mark; a flange beingcoupled a bottom edge of said manhole frame; and a manhole cover beingremovably positioned on said manhole frame to close said manhole frame,said manhole cover having a top side, said top side being divided into afirst half and a second half, each of said first and second halvessloping downwardly from a centerline of said manhole cover, said manholecover being oriented on said manhole frame such that each of said firstand second halves of said manhole cover lies on a plane being coplanarwith a respective one of said first and second sections of said top edgeof said manhole frame wherein each of said first and second halves ofsaid manhole cover are configured to match the slope of a respectivelane on the roadway, said manhole cover having a bottom side and aperimeter edge, said top side of said manhole cover having a spineextending across a centerline of said top side of said manhole cover todefine said first and second halves of said manhole cover, each of saidfirst and second halves sloping downwardly between said spine and saidperimeter edge, said top side having a primary mark thereon, said topside having a secondary mark thereon, said primary mark being positioned180.0 around said perimeter edge from said secondary mark, said bottomside of said manhole cover lying on said lower surface of said slot insaid top side of said manhole frame when said manhole cover ispositioned to close said manhole frame, said primary mark being alignedwith said first mark such that the slope of said first half said manholecover matches the slope of said first section of said top edge of saidmanhole frame, said secondary mark being aligned with said second marksuch that said second half of said manhole cover matches the slope ofsaid second section of said top edge of said manhole frame.
 9. A methodof installing a manhole on a centerline of a roadway and having themanhole match the slope of each lane in the roadway, said methodcomprising the steps of: providing a manhole frame, said manhole framecomprising: a top edge, said top edge being continuously curved about avertical axis of said manhole frame such that said top edge forms aclosed loop, said top edge having a first portion and a second portioneach sloping downwardly from a horizontally oriented centerline of saidmanhole frame, said horizontally oriented centerline of said manholebeing oriented to be collinear with a center line of the roadway whereineach of said first and second portions of said top edge of said manholeare configured to match the slope of a respective lane on the roadway,said manhole frame having an inner facing surface and an outer facingsurface, said top edge having a slot extending downwardly therein, saidslot being coextensive with said inner facing surface of said manholeframe, said slot having a lower surface, said top edge having a firstridge thereon, said first ridge extending between said inner facingsurface and said outer facing surface, said top edge having a secondridge thereon, said second ridge extending between said inner facingsurface and said outer facing surface, each of said first and secondridges being oriented to be collinear with said horizontally orientedcenterline of said manhole such that said each of first and secondridges defines said first and second portions of said top edge of saidmanhole, said top edge having a first mark thereon, said top edge havinga second mark thereon, said first mark being positioned 180.0 degreesaround said top edge from said second mark; and digging a hole in theroadway surrounding a sewer pipe entry; placing said manhole framearound the sewer pipe enter such that said top edge of said manholeframe is aligned with a top surface of the roadway; rotating saidmanhole frame such that said horizontal centerline of said manhole frameis aligned with and is oriented collinear with the centerline of theroadway; placing said manhole cover in said slot in said manhole frameto close said manhole frame and rotating said manhole cover in saidmanhole frame to align said first mark with said primary mark and toalign said second mark with said secondary mark such that said spine onsaid manhole cover is aligned with and is oriented collinear with thecenterline of the roadway; and placing a filler in the hole in theroadway between said outer facing surface of said manhole frame and anedge of the hole, sloping the filler on each side of the centerline ofthe roadway and thereby matching the slope of said first section of saidmanhole frame, said first half of said manhole cover, said secondsection of said manhole frame and said second half of said manhole coverwherein each of said manhole frame and said manhole cover are configuredto seamlessly integrate into the slope of the respective lane in theroadway.